Page 35 of False Start

“I’m sure that hurt your academic heart,” I tease.

“Totally.” He puts his bag down next to the door and then flops onto my bed like he belongs here—and as far as I’m concerned, he does. “So, what do you have planned for us? Please tell me there are no frat parties in my future?”

I smile and then sit down next to him on my bed. “Nah. I think I’m done drinking for the next decade.”

He snorts. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Did you seeJustinthis week?” I have to ask—I’ve been dying to ask, but I also didn’t mean to sneer his name like that. I can’t seem to help it.

“Yeah, a couple of times.” I don’t realize my face is doing anything, but apparently, it’s showing how I’m feeling because it makes Austin cackle. “Relax.We have classes together, and I think he’s perfectly fine with being just friends. There was no spark on either side. Trust me.”

I guess I feel a little better now. And no, I still can’t completely work out why, except I can’t stop thinking about tasting his lips, and I can’t do that withJustinin the way.

“You’re looking at me funny. Are you okay?”

Nope. I’m thinking about kissing my best friend after years of thinking we were just friends—best friends—but still.“I’m fine.”

“Have you seen Vanessa?”

I shake my head, not really wanting to talk about her, but I know he’s probably worried about her too. They’re friends. “Nah, I think she’s busy falling in love or some shit. Or she already is.”

“Or she’s just dating this guy and seeing where it’s going to lead, now that she’s single.”

I glare at him. But when I glare at him, it’s barely an actual glare because I can’t ever be mad at him. “I hate when you’re logical.”

He chuckles and stands up. “Feed me. I’m starving.”

I take a moment to look at him—really look at him. Shorter than me but not actually a short guy. On the smaller side, sure, but his biceps are hugged by his t-shirt sleeves right now, and they aren’t even close to scrawny—he’s all lean muscle. I know for a fact he has defined abs—not chiseled or anything, but he’s toned. His dirty blond hair is tousled from the wind, probably from a full day of walking to classes, and his light-blue eyes are almost clear, shining with promise and mirth. Happiness. He looks really happy right now. Happier than I’ve ever seen him.

His jaw is sharp, with high cheekbones and full lips that I only want to kiss more now. In short, my best friend is absolutely stunning. How did I not see it before? I guess I did, but I didn’t know I was attracted to him.

And I think that’s what I’m feeling now.

“Vaughn?” He looks worried now, and I try to shake it off, standing up and smiling at him.

“Right. Food. How about we go to an actual restaurant instead of the dining hall? There’s some really good food downtown.”

“Sure.” His smile just does something to my insides, making them gooey, and again, I feel this insane pull toward him—I want to kiss him so badly, but I don’t know if he really wants that.

I chicken out again, and then we start the short walk off campus toward a little college downtown area that has a ton of shops, restaurants, and even a bookstore—because I can do that too, Justin.

When we get back to my dorm room, we have full bellies, and Austin has a couple of new books with him. “That was fun,” he says with a smile, and I watch as he strips out of his shirt. I seriously can’t stop watching him.

I think it’s starting to freak him out too, but I can’t stop. I move closer to him, and he actually backs up until his back hits the wall, my much bigger body blocking him as he looks into my eyes, studying me.

“Are you okay?”

I shake my head from side to side slowly, my eyes sweeping over his beautiful face and landing on his lips that are slightly parted with surprise.

“What’s wrong?” He sounds terrified, but I don’t think it’s because he’s afraid of me. He knows better than that. I think he’s worried for me.

I reach up and cup his cheek with my hand, my thumb sweeping over his cheekbone. I watch as he swallows hard, his prominent Adam’s apple bobbing in his throat.

“Vaughn? What’s wrong?”

“Are you still in love with me?”

He looks surprised by the question, even though I asked him last weekend. “What’s going on?”

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